Guys,

Disclaimer: this is not an accusation nor should it become one...

Ok, so how much is enough and at what point does it become hoarding?

Since I had a custom long range rifle built and am finding it difficult to find components I've wondered this...when does it become hoarding?

As a hunter and only reloading for my hunting needs, I could and did wait, keeping enough to be able to make for a couple of years, which frankly wasn't a whole lot. Now I shoot a lot more and when the weather cools off I'm going to be shooting even more therefore my needs are greater now.

I was in Cabelas this week and they had CCI primers and Hornady Amax 140 grain bullets. I bought 2000 primers and 200 bullets. I didn't "need" either right now and in fact only bought the bullets as back up just in case I can't get Berger 140 VLDs in the future. I must confess I almost didn't purchase them at first because by doing so might mean that someone who needs them won't get them....but....then self preservation or greed...I'm not sure which took over. Oh and I prefer to look at it as self preservation. But I still wonder if I did the right thing?

A THF member helped me out this week with H4350! I was down to 1lb and he sold me two lbs at a very fair price! And THANK YOU! You know who you are.

So that is my thoughts and concern..

How many bullets should I have in inventory?

Primers?
Powder?
Brass?
Etc?

Just curious about y'all's thoughts?

Mel

I think getting a few extra is fine , but I too would be willing to help out a fellow shooter. Be willing to sell or trade at your cost until the market changes. My .02 cents.

It Depends. What you bought IMO is not even beginning to come close to hoarding. Some folks shoot that much in a month. I have used 2500 primers in the past two weeks loading some ammo and priming brass for future loading.
As far as primers go I like to be in a situation that when things get tight I don't have to really be concerned for a couple or three years. I may run out of one powder type but if I have primers then I can substitute powders and bullets if I have to. Another reason to work with a couple of powders and bullets for your favorite gun or guns.

An example, my 6.5 Creedmore will do just fine with 4 bullet choices and 5 powders. I don't have a favorite for it as all will do the job.
As I said it depends. If I really WANT to just use one combo of bullet and powder then I would say a couple of years supply in this day and time is just being pragmatic.

Dstroud pretty much nailed it...

I would like to be in a position to be where scares don't scare me at all.

On another note, I would like to have enough stockpiled for several generations of family to not be in a bind in case they get in a bind.

By several generations I take that to mean 150 years or so...... now that would be hoarding!

Yup.

I have over 1000 of my bullet of choice for the 260 Rem. I can't find the bullet (140 A-max) online. Well I saw 2000 of them for sale on a another forum last week and got a friend to go in halves. So he and I have 1000 each coming to us. My thoughts are they WILL get shot eventually and they wont go bad in the mean time. Primers are something that I always buy every time I go into Cabela's. If they have them I will get some and I wont have to pay a Haz-Mat fee. So when a scare happens I'm in ok shape to keep shooting.

One can never have to much!

I GOT SOME 140 vld hunting I'll TRADE FOR A BOX OF THE 140GR amax , 6.5. would LIKE TO TRY THEM IN MY 6.5 Weatherby

I have 6-lbs of VV N-560
6lbs of H-1000
6lbs Retumbo
400, Berger 140gr VLD's
100, Sierra 140gr MK's
1000 FED 215M

These are for 1 rifle should get me through the first barrel

there is NO hazmat fee on primer now.

What are you referring too?....primer DO have a hazmat fee unless a company is running a promo like Mid South did a couple weeks ago.

It has been difficult finding all the components to begin reloading again and I feel like a darn drug dealer meeting all these different people in parking lots to buy stuff. On the bright side, I've met some good folks and have gotten some good advice. I hope this settles down soon but doubt it will for a couple of years.

"Hoarding" is such an ugly word.


I prefer to call it "scare proofing".

Right. They're still classified as an explosive.

The challenge is no longer dialing in your rifle, its finding the components to shoot it.

It ain't hoarding until you have more than a lifetime supply!

perfect, very well put

One mans hoarding is another mans monthly usage.

We buy in large volumes to get best pricing, if it happens to be a five year supply or better, so be it. Cases can be recycled, bullet lead can be cast, but primers are the one thing I can't produce. Have enough components on hand to supply one or two retail stores.

I used to keep just one lb of each type of powder that I use on hand. Boy was that a mistake! Now, if I see a powder that I use on the shelf, I buy it whether I need it or not. I might not see it again for another year or more. My favorite .357 powder is 300mp. I bought every bottle that was on the shelf last time I saw it. Unfortunately, every bottle on the shelf equated to one lb. I am out again, and can't find it. If there is a good probability that you will use it in your lifetime, I would say it is not hoarding. 5 or 6 years ago, I would have had a differing opinion. Funny how a shortage will change one's opinion.

While there is hoarding going on, I do not buy into the scenario hole heartedly. MFGs buy only so much brass per year. Say ATK buys for round numbers, X million pounds of brass, they then allocate that brass as they see fit for business. 223, 308, 45ACP, 9mm and the high sales calibers are going to get the biggest allotment of that X million pounds. Take the 260, 280, and the other less popular calibers, we only see brass production in and around hunting season and this is not just brass. Powder and projectiles are the same way. Nosler Accubonds become non-existent in the off season the last 3 years. If you want to shoot in and around these times you have to buy what you can find. If a guy has a caliber where loading or reloading components are only produced seasonally he is going to feel the hurt in off season. Companies are producing what sells and the caliber popularity of the recent madness in firearms is skewing these mfgs to allocate materials and components to the calibers that have high sales volumes.

Yep! I've done research on this and Obama has had a huge impact but not in the way a lot of people think...

I've read there are more gun owners and shooters than anytime in history. When Obama got elected there was a huge run on pistols, ARs and AKs etc. And they found they really liked shooting them! And then each proceeding scare caused more and more people to buy and then shoot and this has caused the shortage. The ammo manufacturers are using all the powders, bullets, primers and brass and reloaders get the left overs...when there are any.

I buy enough powder, bullets and brass to shoot for about ~1 year. Take my previous 260 Rem I used for competition. I would order 2- 8# kegs worth of H4350. Each keg would last about 1300 rounds, so 2600 rounds for 2 kegs. That is basically 1 barrel worth of powder for a 260 Rem. I always used it for other stuff, too, so it didn't work out this way, but I tried. When you buy 2 at the same time, you hopefully get the same lot number, which will keep the load consistent throughout the barrel life.

Bullets, I bought 12,000 of the 140 VLD's at a time. Yes, it's a lot. But I got tired of having to find 140 VLD's and changing up my seating depth chasing the different ogive measurements from lot to lot. Plus, you get a better deal buying in bulk.

I burned out my 260 Rem barrel, and now run a 6.5x47 Lapua with the same 140 VLD. It's a hammer. I got 500 pieces of brass for it that can be reloaded at least 10 times. Same thing on the powder, 2- 8# kegs (100% dedicated to this barrel only). So, I don't think it's hoarding. I think it's planning.

But I do know many shooters that buy a lot more than they will ever shoot, some never within 1 lifetime, as much as they buy.

I like to keep a year's supply but now buy when I find something I use and don't want to mis the chance of it not being available later.

I have no problem with folks buying what they will use or sell at cost or a fair price. What I do have an issue with is those who buy and extort others with high prices.

I bought a case of Varget a couple months ago before they could even unpack it.